Knitting machine for plaiting and reverse plaiting



y 1938. R. H. LAWSON ET AL 2,124,000

KNITTING MACHINE FOR PLAITING AND REVERSE P LAITING Filed May 14, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 fiyvzmaesz Han/sag JY (WWI 1:73 7

July 19, 1938. R LAWSON r AL 2,124,000

KNITTING MACHINE FOR PLAITING AND REVERSE PLAITING Filed May 14, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 2| FIGCJ. 2o

F1614. as 23 4 36 men/WES: 22 ROBE1ET1YZAWJO/1 26 J/PMmAMMW/HQ July 19, 1938. R. H. LAwsoN Er AL 2,124,000

' KNITTING MACHINE FOR PLAITING AND RBVERSE PLAITING Filed May 14, 1936 4 Sheets-She e t 3 July 19, 1938.,

R. H. LAWSON ET AL 2,124,000 KNITTING MACHINE FOR PLAITING AND REVERSE PLAITING Filed May 14; 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 r I5 F1C.3. 1 1649. 1 I [6 I5 I I I 66 a; 6 'r .6,

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. Patented July 19, 1938 KNITTING MACHINE FOR PLAIT'IING AND REVERSE PLAITING Robert H. Lawson, Pawtucket, and Arthur N. .Cloutier, Lonsdalc, R. 1., assignors to Hemphill' Company, Central Falls, R. L, a corporation of Massachusetts Application May 14, 1936, .Serial No. 79,742

' 11 Claims. (01. 66-90) This case concerns an invention in knitting machines of a type adapted to knit ornamental fabric by plaiting and reverse plaitingr. Theimprovement involves mechanism for positively 5 controlling the plaiting and reverse plaiting yarns in such a manner that the relative positions of the two or moreyarns as they lie in the fabric will be more precisely determined and that changes from one plaiting yarn to another will 10 be made more positively thus producing fabric with ornamental areas which are sharply defined and in which the plaiting yarn will'unfailingly cover the other yarn or yarns over which it lies to produce areas of a definite color as desired.

15 In the drawings:

mechanismapplied to a conventional hosiery knitting machine;

Fig. 2 is a plan showing as much of thema- 20 chine as is necessary to indicate generally the construction and manner of applying the invention, to a hosiery machine;

Fig. 3 is a section taken on line 3-3, Fig. 2, showing a fragment of the latch ring, a few 25 needles at the mouthpiece, yarn guides and a part of the device for controlling the position of yarns; Fig. 4 is a section taken on'the line 4-4, Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a detail of the yarn engaging hook; Fig. 6 is an elevation of part oi the hosiery 30 machine indicating the controlling mechanism for the plaiting and reverse plaiting yarn separating means;

Fig. '7 is a section taken through the machine frame and illustrating that mechanism which has 5 been shown in Fig. '6 as it appears from above;

Figs. 8 and 9 are a section and plan, respectively, showing the yarn separating hook about to engage one of a pair of feeding yarns;

Figs. 10 and 11 are similar views showing the hook in a position wherein it has engaged and is :aintaining one of the yarns in separated posi- Figs. 12 and 13 are similar views showing one of the yarns after being released upon a change 45 to separate plaiting-yams.

Fig. 14 is a view showing a fragment of-the machine at the mouthpiece, the yarn engaging hook being shown about to engage and separate one oi' 'a new set of feeding yarns.

50 The mechanism which forms the subject matter of this. case has been employed very efiec-' tively .to controlyarns which are knitted'in. a fabric by plaiting of any known type andby plaiting and'reverse plaiting. The invention is 55 particularly advantageous when employed with Fig. 1 is an elevation showing the improved certain yarns such as some of the yams formed of artificially produced filaments, these yarns being very smooth and being particularly hard to .control when plaiting or reverse plaiting, as is well known. The general principle upon which the invention is based is that of maintaining two feeding yarns, one being knitted as a plaiting yarn, in as widely separated relationship as possible. This extreme separation of yarns assures that an extremely strong tendency to come to the frontof the fabric will be imparted to one of the yarns, and by means of pattern control, the eiIect of the yarn engaging and separating means may be shitfed from one plaiting yarn to another or other plaiting yarns. 15

It is possible to feed the plaiting yam with much less tension therein than would be commonlyrequired, it being necessary to impose only a slight tension oneither the plaiting or backing yarn, and not being necessary to impose any greater tension on one yarn than the other. With yarns such as acetate or rayon plaiting has been effected with difficulty and then with the employment of such as excessive tension on the plaiting yarn'that the filaments have been broken very frequently. The excessive tension on the plaiting yarn has rendered reverse plaiting all the more difllcult and uncertain so that this invention assures very satisfactory plaiting, positive and easily acquired reverse plaiting and does not subject the yarns to excessive tension to cause breakage.

Referring to Figs. 1-5, a knitting machine has been illustrated with a frame I, needle cylinder 2, sinker assembly 3' and a so-called circular base -5 4. A latch ring 5 is pivoted for swinging upwardly at .the usual latch ring post (not shown) and this latch ring has the usual extension 6 for pivotally mounting a series of yarn guides herein shown as five in number, although more or less may be employed, these guides to be more specifically referred to as this description prograsses. The usual knitting cams would be employed, these not being illustrated although the front needle raise cam 1 is shown mounted on cam plate 8 and the bracket 9 carrying the instep' cams is also attached to this cam plate. Part of the main cam shaft I0 is seen in the lower. part of FlgJl, this shaft carrying the usualdrum II with suitable cams thereon for controlling the yarn guides through a series of fingers generally indicated at I! and which are connected in the usualway to levers l3 at the upper end oi bracket ll, all in a manner known-and described with respect to knitting machines of the Banner type. I

The invention may be employed with two colors, that is, with one yarn guide such as guide l5, Figs. 2 and 3, having therein two openings through which a plaiting yarn and a backing yarn are to be fed. The invention is not limited to only two yarns, and would be employed with four yarns, thus giving the knitter a choice of four colors for ornamentation of the .fabric, and of course, more guides and thus more colors may be added up to a number which may be reasonably handled within the ordinary knitting machine. For purposes of illustration, the guide l5 has been shown feeding two yarns while the adjacent guide I6 is shown feeding two more yarns, and the description of the device will be given with respect to the knitting of these four colors in a fabric, this description being made with a purpose of disclosing one workable form of the invention which will be easily understood by those skilled in the art.

The latch ring 5 has a bracket ll attached thereto by suitable connecting means, this bracket having a downwardly projecting part l8 and an upwardly projecting portion IS. The part which projects downwardly is slotted. as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 4 and guides a hook 20 to be moved transversely of the yarn feeding levers,

this hook being shown in detail in Fig. 5. The

latch ring is also slotted in continuation of the slot in the part of the bracket l8 so that the hook 20 is guided throughout practically its entire length, the inner end of this hook being reduced in height and terminating in a hooked end 2| capable of pulling a yarn in one direction, but

bevelled in the other direction so that it may slide under a yarn to engage it. The outer end of the said hook is notched to be engaged by a pin 22 fixed in one arm 23 of a bell crank lever pivoted at 24 in extension I9. This bell crank lever projects at 25 to be engaged by operating devices which will be described later. The arm 23 is pulled in one direction by means of a spring 26 attached to the pin 22 and also fixed to another pin 27 connected to element I8. This spring tends to move the hook inwardly under the yarns to engage them while the operating devices functioning under pattern control maintain the bell crank lever and hook in the opposite direction except at such times as it is desired to release one yarn and engage another. A stop consisting of an angularly bent piece 28 is adjustably attached by screws 29 and 3|! to the side of bracket extension l8 and may be adjustably moved to limit the extent of travel of the hook inward.

Two means for controlling this yarn separating hook are necessary. One means for controlling the hook for removing the same from active engagement with any yarns will be essential when knitting the heel and toe of the stocking,- and in fact, for all parts of the stocking which are not to be ornamented. Another control is found necessary for engaging the hook with and releasing yams during the knitting of patterned fabric, this control being worked from some part of the machine whereby frequent changes may be made so that diflerent colors may be forced to appear at the face of the fabric in rapid succession.

The control during knitting of the heel and toe functions from the clutch actuating lever 3| thus withdrawing the hook at the start of knitting either the toe or the heel, but upon change from reciprocatory-to rotary knitting, will free the hook so thatit may be controlled by the otheri means. .A bell crank lever 321s pivoted at 33 to and foot, at least through the instep of the foot.

' some patterns. In the heel it is notnecessary to start and stop the heel at any particular point in jecting beneath the arm 25 of the lever which directly controls the book. In Fig. 1 the machine has been illustrated with these parts as they would appear while knitting in rotary work, but

upon shifting of the clutch, lever 3| would be moved to the left swinging bell crank lever 32 and raising the bar 36 until it would contact lever 25 and draw the hook outwardly in its slot to avoid interference with any of the yarns or yarn levers.

When knitting a stocking it is common practice to ornament the work throughout the leg At such times the hook 26 would be under the control of a pattern wheel 38 having a series, of projecting pins or screws 39 extending therefrom which contact with a follower 40 fixed at one end of a lever 4| which has been pivoted to a stud 42 projecting from the frame of the machine. This lever 4| projects to the outer side of its pivot at 42 and is connected to another short lever 43 by means of a link 44. The short lever 43 is movable about a pivot 45* and connects at 46 to an upwardly extending rod 41. This rod 47 as more clearly shown in Fig. 1, is guided within a restraining element and has a screw 49 fixed at its upper end in a position to contact lever 25. A spring 50 is connected to the rod 41 at 5| and to a fixed part of the machine as shown at 52. This spring is under considerable tension and serves to move the rod in an upward direction except when the same is positively moved downwardly by contact of one of the pins 39 with main cam shaft as will be described presently. Cam shaft III has a drum 53 fixed thereto to which has been attached a cam 54 for actuating the hook at the start ofknitting in the leg, that is, right after knitting the ring top; another cam 55 has been fixed to this drum to control the hook at the start in the foot-right after knitting the heel. These cams 54 and 55 function upon a follower 55 projecting from the lever 4| and move the hook inwardly to a yarn engaging position at the start of knitting in the leg and in the foot after the heel to assure that theinstant a yarn lever is moved to feeding position for feeding a plaiting 'yarn and a backing yarn, the plaiting yarn will be engaged by the hook and will be drawn to a preferred position at the first course. This avoids special timing of the disc 38 which might involve considerable difliculty with the pattern since the cam 55 will assure that the hook controls the yarn after the change from the heel to the foot. The timing of the cam shaft H) is such that a movement thereof at the start of the leg mat the start of the foot after the heel, imparts a sufllcient movement to the drum 53'for either cam 54 or 55 to raise lever 4| and to drop it oif its cam at a single motion. The hook will be projected in to catch the plaiting yarn just afterits yarn guide has been lowered to feeding position. v

The striperdrumshaft 51 which is-- located at the back of the machine also carries a drum 58 having a plurality of double stepped cams 59 40 the follower 4|l'or by means of cam control on the j the yarn guide controlling wires 63, and carry adjustable cam followers 64 at their other end by means of which the motion of the double stepped cams is imparted to the yarn guides. The reason for constructing these earns 59 with double steps will be given with respect to the control of the yarn guides themselves.

Of course, each of the wires 63 is controlled 4 by the usual levers I! which contact cams on drum H as previously described. This addifront of the fabric.

tional control functions for the changes of color, that is, the changes of yarn incidental to supplying diflerent colors, it being understood that as between colors supplied by any one guide, reverse plaiting will be resorted to for selectively bringing the non-plaiting color to the Now with respect to Figs. 8-14 the operation of the device will be describedthroughout the changes from one yarn guide to another. In the Figs. 8 and 9 the hook 26 has been shown extended inwardly as it would be at the start of the leg or the foot, or as it would be upon change from one yarn feeding guide to another. Such movement would be imparted by cams 54 or 55, or by'any one of the pins 39 on disc 38. Yarn guide l6 has just been moved to a feeding position, the other guide l5. being shown in raised or non-feeding pos'tion. The 'two yarns feeding through guide l5 are held in a suitable yarn binder while those yarns fed by guide l6 have already been taken by the needles and are fed through the mouthpiece. The plaiting yarn is indicated by numeral 65 while the backing yarn is indicated at 66. Of'course, the relative position ofthese yarns will be reversed in the fabric upon the action of any reverse plaitingmechanism such as the sinker reverse plaiting characteristic of certain Banner machines. In Fig. 9 the normal separation or 'divergence of the yarn is shown. With such separation of the yarns it would. commonly be necessary to employ considerably more tension on yarn 65, the plaiting yarn, then on yarn 66. As'previously stated, failure to use such additional tension withsome yarns would result inlessperfect plaiting, more unsatisfactory reverse plaiting and poorly defined lines of demarcation between the two. Further, to employ such excessive tension would lead to other diificulties, chiefly that 'of yarn breakage.

with the construction shown about the same amount of tension would be used upon each of the yarns and that tension would not need to be much more thanwould ordinarily be applied to any yarn for proper knitting. The hook 20 would only come into the position of Figs. 8 and 9 long enough to catch a-yam after yarn guide '56 had moved down whereupon follower 56 would drop from either cam 54 or 55, or the follower 46 would be released from one of the pins 39 to allow the hook to be drawn to the position of Figs. 10 and'il. This movement is assured by spring 60. when drawn to the position shown position,

in these figures, the yarns 65 and 66 will be separated to a much greater extent and yarn 65 will be fed very close to the needle circle.

This angle of divergence assures that yarn 65.

' such as l5 will be moved to feeding position and the first guide withdrawn.

The withdrawal of yarn guide [6 is accomplished in two steps, this being possible as fol-' lower 64' rides upon the lower step and then on to the highest step of one of-the cams 59. Figs. 12 and 13 illustrate the guide in its midthat is, when follower 64' would rest upon the first step of a cam. As guide I6 is moved to its intermediate position, the guide l5 may be started on its downward movement, but-the purpose of raising the first guide before the second is' completely moved to its feeding position is to allow the yarn 65 to be released from the hook so that guide l5 will not come down 'on top of that yarn to prevent its being released. If such were the case, that yarn could not be freed from the hook until the hook was movedinwardly; this would result .in knitting the-yarn 65 longer than desired.

In Figs. 12 and 13 yarn 65 has been shown just after it has snapped out of the hook prior to guide l5 being moved to feeding position, the guide being moved to thatposition in these views. The yarn 65 will be drawn back by the take-up and will'go into the binder along with yarn 66 as guide I6 is moved to inactive position as the follower 63 is raised on to the top of one of the cams 59.

In Fig. 14 guide I6 is shown in extreme upper position, be taken into the binder and cut. Guide I5 is in lowermost position and the hook 26 has been projected inwardly to engage yarn 65', the new plaiting yarn, to separate it from yarn 66'. More guides might be employed to feed a greater number of yarns thus increasing the number of colors available; This description is merely given as one example of the invention as it applies to a machine feeding four colors, two ,at a time, any two of the yarns fed by one guide being subject to reverse plaiting. With the' construction shown the guide l6 must be withdrawn in two steps as indicated, however, no such movebe necessary with respect to the of, guide l5 which is directly over and closer thereto than ment would withdrawal the point .of hook 2!! guide l6. If three or more -in plaiting relation to another yarn, a yarn guide for feeding a plaiting" yarn and a backing yarn, said yarn guide being constructed to feed one of the yarns closer to the circle of needles than the other and at a definiteangle thereto,'and means functioning independently of the guide guides were em-.

ployed, the two step movement at withdrawalv -.would be imparted to all of those yarn feeding guides except the one nearest the point of the 40 the yarn fed thereby being about to vfor holding one of the yarns in-such a position that it will be spaced fromtheother by an angle greater than that'provided by the guide to assure more satisfactory plaiting.

2. In a knitting machine for knitting one yarn in plaiting relation to another, means for feed- I ing a plaiting and backing yarn, said means bethan that provided by said feeding means alone.

3. In a knitting machine for knitting one yarn in plaiting relation to the other, a yarn guide having spaced guiding apertures through which a plaiting yarn and a backingyarn are threaded, the construction being such that the plaiting -yarn and the backing yarn are. fed to the needles at an angle to one another and spaced from one another throughout a definite extent, said angle being such that for some yarns the plaiting yarn would not be definitely knitted in plaiting relation to the backing yarn without the use of excessive tension on the plaiting yarn, and means for holding the plaiting yarn away from the backing yarn-and closer to the needles than provided for by the feeding means whereby the plaiting yarn will be knitted in plaiting relationship to the backing yarn without imposing any undue tension thereon.

4. In a knittingmachine for knitting plaited fabric, a yarn guide for feeding two yarns, one yarn being fed closer to the needles than the other whereby they approach the knitting point at a convergent angle, a hook movable substantially at rightangles to the yarn feeding guide for catching one of the yarns and for pulling it closer to the circle of needles whereby it will be fed at; an angle more widely spaced from the backing yarn than provided by the yarn feeding guide itself.

5. A knitting machine for knitting one yarn in plaiting relation to another including yarn guides for feeding a plurality of yarns in such a manner that a plaiting yarn is fed to the needles at an angle to the direction in which the other yarn is fed to the needles and closer to the needles than the other yarn, automatically controlled means for withdrawing and projecting said yarn feeding guides to feeding position in accordance with a predetermined pattern, a hook for. catching the plaiting yarn and holding it in a position wherein it will feed to the needles at;a greater angle with respect to the other yarn than provided by the yarn feeding guide itself and pattern controlled meansfor moving this hook to and from yarn catching position as the yarn feeding guides are moved to and from their inactive position.

6. In a knitting machine, a yarn feeding guide y'having two apertures through which yarns are fed, one of the said apertures feeding its yarn closer to a circle of needles than the other, means automatically actuated for. catching one of the yarns and moving it to a position closer to the circle of needles whereby it will be fed to the needles at as great an angle as possible with respect to the other yarn fed by the same feeding means.

7. A yarn feeding and controlling means for knitting machines adapted to knit one yarn in plaiting relation to another, yarn guides constructed to feed two yarns separately and at an angle to one another, said angle being insuflicient to cause one yarn to plait over the other without applying excessive tension thereto, a hook movable across the path of the feeding yarns adapted to catch the plaiting yarn and draw it away from the other yarn to increase the angle at which they feed whereby plaiting may be effected without resort to difference in tension.

8. In a knitting machine, a latch ring, a bracket attached to said ring and having a slot therein, a slot in the ring in continuation of that in the bracket, a hook comprising a shank and a yarn engaging point slidable within the slot and means functioning on the bracket for moving the hook in either direction.

- 9. Mechanism as'defined in claim 8, wherein said means for moving the hook in either direction comprises a spring for moving it in one direction and pattern controlled elements functioning from timed parts of the knitting machine feeding a plaiting and backing yarn, said feeding means being constructed to feed said yarns to knitting instrumentalities at a definite angle and other means functioning independently of the feeding means for selectively engaging one of the yarns and moving it to a position so that the said plaiting andbacking yarns will then be fed at an angle considerably greater than originally provided by the feeding means itself.

11. A knitting machine for knitting one yarn in plaiting relation to another including knitting instrumentalities and yarn feeding means for feeding a plurality of yarns, one of which may be a backing yarn and others of which may be knitted selectively as plaiting yarns, means for engaging one of the plaiting yarns and for moving it away from the backing yarn thereby to increase the angle at which the plaiting and backing yarn feed to the instrumentalities, and pattern controlled means functioning upon said yarn engaging means and functioning in timed relation to the plaiting yarn feeding means for disengaging the said means from one plaiting yarn and engaging it with another. I

ROBERT H. LAWSON. ARTHUR N. CLOUTIER. 

